Putin not to discuss sanctions in Finland — Kremlin

Kremlin notes the Russian economy’s adaptation to existence under the sanctions regime

ST. PETERSBURG, June 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin during his forthcoming visit to Finland does not plan to raise the issue of lifting the West’s sanctions on Russia, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, answering a TASS question.

The Kremlin spokesman said that Russia "traditionally does not raise the sanctions’ issue." "Probably, neither the (sanctions) lifting or extension is an item on our agenda", he added.

"Moreover, now that we can say with confidence that a rather fast process of the Russian economy’s adaptation to existence under the conditions of sanctions’ exchange has begun, there's no way for this issue to be put on our agenda", Peskov said.

He reiterated that Russia "was not the initiator of this situation, and, probably, Russia should not be the initiator of steps to overcome this situation, after all."

According to the presidential press secretary, Putin repeatedly told his partners on Thursday, including at the evening lunch with foreign investors that Russia is interested in mutually beneficial cooperation, it is looking for partners abroad, and is willing to create for them "extremely favorable conditions for doing business in Russia." "Therefore, even in the current situation we hope for a rather effective development of mutual relations," Peskov said.